Fall 2009 HIO Newsletter for Administrators

Dear Scholar Administrators:

Welcome to a new academic year!

The HIO is providing this brief newsletter in order to help you stay abreast of the latest news and ongoing issues which may affect your department. We also send email notices and update our website throughout the year as major changes occur.

Fall 2009 News from the HIO

1. The processing time for H-1B visas has been permanently lengthened. The middle step which must be adjudicated by the Department of Labor, the Labor Condition Application (LCA), is filed by submission into an online database which now requires ten days for government processing. Please adjust the timing of submission of H-1B materials accordingly. It is no longer possible to accommodate last minute H-1B filings.


2. On a related note, please remember that there is a mandatory LCA posting procedure which accompanies all H-1B processing. It is crucial that you post in two locations for ten business days, and then return the posted, dated posting notices to us so we can properly document that we have complied with government regulations. You may either fax them to our office, or send us the hard copy. If you have any questions about posting, please do not hesitate to contact your advisor in our office.


3. If you have access to eScholar, please use it regularly. Very soon, it will be the primary system for submission of information to the HIO about new incoming scholars to the University.


4. If the department administrator changes in your department, please inform the HIO immediately so we can ensure that crucial documentation and information gets to the correct person.


5. The recruitment process for ladder track faculty will begin soon. Please note that departments which may hire foreign nationals should be certain to place a hard copy ad in a nationally circulated paper publication. A reminder will be sent in early October. If you have any questions in the meanwhile, please do not hesitate to contact Anne Gardsbane in the HIO.


6. The information session on green cards will be held in mid Fall. Details will be provided on our website and via email when the date is set.

Please do not reply to this newsletter. Should you have any questions about the contents you should feel free to contact your advisor at the HIO.